LONDON - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced his new Labor Cabinet in London Thursday, including the first female home secretary.

Brown, installed Wednesday as prime minister to replace the retiring Tony Blair, named Jacqui Smith as home secretary, akin to the U.S. secretary of state.

As his own replacement as chancellor, or finance minister, Brown named Alistair Darling as widely anticipated by British media.

Jack Straw, a former home secretary and foreign secretary was named to the justice seat, while one of Brown's former economic advisers, Ed Balls, was given the newly created post of schools and children secretary, the BBC reported.

The report said Balls' wife, Yvette Cooper, is tipped to be named to another new post -- secretary of housing.

Other females in the new Cabinet include Harriet Harman, deputy leader of the Labor Party, becomes leader of the House of Commons, and Hazel Blears becomes communities secretary.